Valencia beat Serie A champions Inter Milan comfortably in the opening game of this weekend's Emirates Cup.

There was, thankfully, no repeat of the mass brawl which marred their Champions League encounter in March and saw several players handed lengthy bans as well as the clubs heavily fined.

The tournament which also awards bonus points per goal and will later see hosts Arsenal take on Paris St Germain kicked off in what was rare summer sunshine in north London.

Valencia beaten in the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season by Chelsea started brightly.

Impressive winger David Silva flashed an angled drive just over from the right side of the box, and it was no surprise when the Spaniards took the lead on 13 minutes.

Ruben Baraja sent over a deep cross from the right, which picked out Jamie Gavilan at the far post.

From a tight angle, the midfielder squeezed his first-time shot under Francesco Toldo and into the bottom corner.

Inter wearing a change kit of white with a St George-style red cross - struggled to get out of first gear.

Captain Marco Materazzi, the former Everton defender, was somewhat harshly jeered by the Emirates Stadium crowd, presumably for his part in the dismissal of France legend Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final.

Veteran Portugal midfielder Luis Figo felt he should have been given a penalty when he appeared to be tripped by Ivan Helguera in the corner of the box. Referee Alan Kelly, though, was unimpressed.

On the half-hour mark, Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares saved well at the near post from Julio Cruz as Inter found some life.

Brazilian Maxwell saw his low angled drive come back off the inside of the post, with Canizares beaten.

Moments later, however, and it was 2-0.

Inter gave away a free-kick just to the left of centre, 20 yards out, in the 39th minute.

Villa's effort was well struck and took a slight defection as the ball flew past Toldo into the right-hand corner. As expected, both teams made several changes at the break including Inter keeper Toldo for Julio Cezar and former Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt was also introduced by the Italians.

Substitute Migel Angulo flashed a 20-yard drive wide as Valencia again were the more industrious side.

Another familiar face to the English crowd was introduced with 27 minutes left when former Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes replaced Silva.

Both teams were happy enough to go through the motions in the closing stages.

Valencia midfielder Didier Digard drilled his 20-yard effort over, before Angulo somehow missed his kick in front of goal after great build-up in what was the final decent opening of the match.